A Washington State Patrol trooper was arrested for vehicular homicide after allegedly crashing into a 20-year-old motorcyclist, resulting in his death.
Sarah Clasen was arrested after she collided with a motorcyclist while allegedly drunk at an intersection in Village Parkway in Richland at around 7:39 p.m. on Saturday, Mar. 1, the Richland WA Police Department announced. The victim, identified as Jhoser Sanchez, later died in the hospital.
Clasen, 35, was arrested in connection to the crash and booked into Benton County jail the next day on a 72-hour hold, police confirmed in a press conference.
Clasen appeared in court on Monday, Mar. 3, where it was revealed in the probable cause statement that she had been “returning to her home when she attempted to make a left turn” as Sanchez approached from the East. She then crashed into “the front right corner of his vehicle,” per the police.
Police revealed in the press conference that they identified “several inconsistencies” in Clasen’s account of the incident. They determined that Clasen was “impaired at the time of crash,” noting that she had “slurred speech, disorganized statements and glassy eyes.”
Richland Police Department press conference on Mar. 3.
Richland WA Police Department Facebook
“Additionally, she declined to complete a standardized field sobriety test at the scene and also the preliminary breath test which are often done as course of the DUI investigation,” police said.
The Richland Police Department added that they took over the case from the Washington State Patrol after identifying the defendant “to ensure transparency and impartiality in the investigation.”
Clasen was released from jail on Monday afternoon as she awaits possible charges.
According to court documents obtained by local outlet the Tri-City Herald, Clasen told investigators she was “coming home after picking up a pizza” and that the crash “came out of nowhere.” She said as she turned, she “saw a single light and believed it was a car missing a headlight.”
Clasen claimed in the affidavit that the motorcyclist was “definitely going faster than the posted speed limit,” per the outlet. Officer Steve Heid argued that “an attentive driver should have been able to see the motorcyclist.”
Police called the incident “a terrible, tragic accident,” adding, “Our hearts go out to the Sanchez family.”
An autopsy for Sanchez is scheduled for Tuesday, Mar. 4 and the investigation remains ongoing.
